City comparison
Madison is safer than Chicago. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Safety is where Chicago and Madison split most clearly. Madison scores 76 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago and $1,413 in Madison.
Madison is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Madison is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Madison has rougher pockets and Chicago has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Chicago and Madison are 123 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $27 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $78,050 in Madison, up $148 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 91 in Madison, down 76 points (46%).
The move
Madison and Chicago are 123 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $27 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $77,902 in Chicago, down $148 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 167 in Chicago, up 76 points (84%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Madison rent is 2% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Madison is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $27, or $324 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Madison's median income is 1% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
Madison
Winner$78,050
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Madison (about $148 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
46% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 46% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in Madison. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Madison is the easier city. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
21% more comfortable
Chicago weather is 21% more comfortable than Madison
Chicago
Winner58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Madison
53°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 66/100
Chicago averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Madison averages about 53°F (61°F highs). Chicago averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Madison averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chicago scores 21% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Madison if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Chicago if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Madison on this page's weather index by 21%. Madison may pay more or cost less, but Chicago is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Madison is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($78,050). Start with Madison if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Chicago (91 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Madison leads on safety (63/100 vs 44/100 in Chicago). Typical rent is $1,413 in Madison and $1,440 in Chicago; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Madison vs 44/100 in Chicago), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,440 in Chicago.
Between Chicago and Madison, Madison is ahead on safety — 63/100 safety versus 44/100. Lean Chicago instead when you already know the Chicago block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Madison, plus other cities in IL and WI.
